November 16, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laurie Ahern
+1.202.296.6573
Washington, D.C., US
International group gathers to promote non-medical approaches
to treating people diagnosed with mental illness
MASSACHUSETTS, US- An international summit of world renowned psychiatrists,
people who have experienced psychiatric treatment, family members,
psychologists, and other mental health professionals, gathered last
week in the United States to counter the belief that people with diagnoses
such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder can never completely recover.
Practitioners from the International Network of Treatment Alternatives
for Recovery (INTAR), came from Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland,
England, Austria and the United States to share data and research,
which they say proves that a non-medical approach to extreme mental
or emotional states helps people recover, contrary to conventional
wisdom.
"When you look at a person's life experiences and history - rather
than looking at these problems as a disease - people get better,"
stated Bertram P. Karon, PhD, Professor of Psychology at Michigan
State University and author of the book, Psychotherapy of Schizophrenia:
The Treatment of Choice, who attended the summit.
"It is our experience that even people diagnosed with the most severe mental
illness can lead independent and self-directed lives without lifelong
psychiatric treatment."
According to INTAR members, a diagnosis of mental illness need not
be permanent. The group also expressed concern over the damage caused
by traditional psychiatric treatments.
"We know what hurts and we know what helps people. It is our goal
to let everyone else know as well," concluded Karon.
INTAR Summit Participants
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Laurie Ahern
Michaela Amering
Karyn Baker
Ron Bassman
Bob Clafin
Oryx Cohen
Sabine Dick
Anne Marie DiGiacomo
Jeanne Dumont
Nazlim Hagmann
Will Hall
Michael Herrick
Iris Hölling
Gail A. Hornstein
Roman Janda
Bertam P. Karon
|
Anne Krauss
Peter Lehmann
Elaine Levin
Paddy McGowan
Constance Packard
Darby Penney
Laura Prescott
Leon Redler
James J. Rye
Judy Schreiber
Peter Statsny
Chris Stevenson
Philip Thomas
Ann Thompson
Victoria Yoshen
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INTAR Committee member unable to attend: Celia Brown
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